Wide-Leg Jeans Are a Celebrity Closet Staple, and the Best Pairs We've Worn Start at Just $25 (2024)

For those of us tired of skinny jeans and tight denim that allow for little breathing room, wide-leg jeans are a welcome respite.

Our editors aren’t the only fans of wide-leg jeans — so are the celebrities we obsess over. Katie Holmes, Jennifer Lopez, and Chrissy Teigen are just a few examples of how Hollywood has embraced this street style.

We scoured the internet for our favorite wide-leg jeans, pulling inspiration from celebrities and our own closets alike. Ahead, a breakdown of the most popular styles and jeans you’ll want to add to your fall rotation.

Classic Wide-Leg Jeans

Chrissy Teigen frequently opts for wide-leg jeans, and one of our favorite looks features a $731 embellished version of the Darkpark Lu Straight Leg Jeans. Earlier this year, she wore the slouchy jeans with a blazer, bra top, and heels, proving that this silhouette is the epitome of day-to-night denim.

You’ll seldom find us in a $700 pair of jeans, but some of our favorite styles give us the same silhouette for a fraction of that price.

Style doesn’t get more effortless than this pair. The relaxed silhouette of these jeans makes for comfortable all-day wear while still channeling the cool-girl style of stars like Teigen. These $50 jeans offer a near-identical shape to the model’s pair, thanks to the super high-rise waist and long length that puddles at the floor.

Material: 100% cotton | Washes: 3 | Sizes: 25–32

Material: 99% cotton, 1% elastane | Washes: 3 | Sizes: 23-33; available in petite and tall

The Tomcat Roller Jeans feature a similar silhouette to Teigen’s jeans, with a slightly more retro cut (they are from the brand’s David Bowie collection, after all). We love the cotton stretch denim that makes sure we stay comfortable all day. Plus, Mother jeans seem to be a repeat denim staple for Jennifer Garner, Meghan Markle, and Jennifer Lopez, too.

Material: 70% cotton, 17% polyester, 11% lyocell, 2% elastane | Washes: 1 | Sizes: 23–34; available in petite

White Wide-Leg Jeans

Katie Holmes has been wearing wide-leg jeans on repeat, and we particularly love the white style she wore in New York City in June. The jeans fit snugly over her hips, widening mid-thigh for a perfectly tailored fit.

No matter the season, we love a wide-leg white jean (yes, even after Labor Day). Whether pairing it with a casual T-shirt like Holmes, a blouse for a dressier dinner look, or a white sweater to achieve a monochromatic winter fit, white wide-leg jeans are a wardrobe essential. Plus, you don’t have to splurge to get the look.

A $50 pair of jeans that are trendy and comfortable? Sign us up. These jeans achieve the same fit as Holmes’ pair, with a snug fit through the waist and hips and looser fit through the leg.

Material: 99% cotton, 1% spandex | Washes: 9 | Sizes: 00-30; tall and petite available

For a slightly less A-line silhouette, we love these Abercrombie jeans. We appreciate the thoughtful details that differentiate this pair from basic white jeans, like the front seams and gold rivets.

Material: 99% cotton, 1% elastane | Washes: 30 | Sizes: 23-37

Personal stylist Jordanna Sharp tells PEOPLE that she has recommended these Reformation jeans to many clients, thanks to their impressive fit and quality. They’re available in 21 washes, but we’d be remiss not to suggest the white pair that looks just like Holmes’ jeans.

Material: 100% organically grown cotton | Washes: 21 | Sizes: 23–34

Wide-Leg Drawstring Jeans

Jennifer Lopez was spotted in a pair of oversized jeans that tie at the waist —a chic addition to the classic baggy style. They’re super loose through the thigh, creating an exaggerated hourglass shape. While we’ve seen plenty of wide-leg fanatics cinch their jeans with shoelaces to emulate a similar look to J.Lo’s, we’re reaching for pairs that have built-in belts and drawstrings.

You can get Lopez’s look for $30 with these Allimy Drawstring Jeans, available at Amazon. They have the same silhouette, along with a white tie that easily lends itself to J.Lo’s crafty belted look. Reviewers say the jeans are versatile and flattering, with a good amount of stretch for all-day comfort.

Material: 67% cotton, 28% polyester, 3% viscose, 2% spandex | Washes: 5 | Sizes: 4–16

This pair from Hidden Jeans elevates the look of a shoelace belt with a white drawstring that ties at the zipper. We love this casual detail that creates a cinched look, along with the super wide leg and dark wash.

Material: 100% cotton | Washes: 1 | Sizes: 24-31

These Levi’s jeans are super wide through the hips and legs, mirroring the same silhouette as JLo’s jeans. Consistent with Levi’s quality, the denim is super durable, so these jeans will wear and wash well.

Material: 100% cotton | Washes: 1 | Sizes: 23-34

Black Wide-Leg Jeans

Leave it to Holmes to try out every color of wide-leg jeans. This black pair is an easy replacement for your tailored black trousers, making for a happily repeatable outfit for work, brunch, or even a night out.

These Everlane jeans look just like Holmes’ pair, made of a stiff denim and wide through the thigh and leg. We love the ankle length that allows your shoes to be the star of the show, so we’re taking a page from Holmes’ book and pairing these jeans with our favorite ballet flats or Mary Janes.

Material: 96% cotton, 1% elastane, 3% other fibers | Washes: 7 | Sizes: 23-33; two lengths available

The Ettelo straight leg jeans are a close match to Holmes’ pair, available at Amazon for under $50. Reviewers rave about the stretchy, narrowing fit, which is especially loved by those with curvy figures.

Material: 72% cotton, 23% polyester, 3% viscose, 2% spandex | Washes: 20 | Sizes: 2–18; available in short

Barrel Jeans

Earlier this year, Julianne Moore elevated the Canadian tuxedo with one of this year’s hottest jean styles: the barrel jean.

Think of the barrel jean as the wide-leg jean’s slightly refined sister. They feature the same wide fit through the leg, tapering slightly at the ankle. Barrel jeans commonly feature a thicker denim that holds the unique silhouette over multiple wears.

Recreate Moore’s cool-girl style with these highly rated barrel jeans, available at Amazon. They have the same wide leg silhouette and tapered ankle, and they come in eight different washes, including a light wash that is nearly identical to Moore’s. Reviewers love the high-quality denim, and one reviewer likens the quality to brands like Free People and Mother.

Material: 73% cotton, 27% polyester | Washes: 8 | Sizes: 2-14

These are some of the most popular barrel jeans available,and for good reason. They’re made of a stiff denim that holds the barrel shape well, and the ankle length ensures the world will see your favorite shoes. They come in 18 different washes, so there’s a pair for you, whether you like traditional denim washes, white, black, or even pistachio-colored jeans.

Material: 57% cotton, 43% lyocell | Washes: 18 | Sizes: 24-33; available in long

Celebrities like Taylor Swift and Bella Hadid are frequently spotted in EB Denim. These are the coolest jeans we’ve seen in a while. We love the super wide leg, which exaggerates the barrel silhouette, along with the unique seams that truly set this pair apart. The parachute style lets you cinch in the ankle hems with a drawstring for an even more exaggerated look.

Material: 100% cotton | Washes: 8 | Sizes: 23-34

What to Know About Wide-Leg Jeans

Fit

Since wide-leg jeans are less form-fitting than other styles, it can be difficult to identify the perfect fit. When trying on wide-leg jeans, celebrity stylist Cindy Conroy advises shoppers to look for red flags.

“If the area between your belly button and pelvis is dimpled with sagging or rolling pockets of fabric, that’s a problem,” Conroy says. “It means your wide leg jeans are too big. Your jeans should fit snugly on your waist.”

Rise

Wide-leg jeans are available in high-rise and low-rise options. Some, like Sharp, prefer high-rise styles, which naturally elongate the legs. “I prefer when they are tight by the waist and then the entire denim is a little looser on the leg,” Sharp adds. “You want them to feel like a true wide leg, and not like a flare or bell bottom.”

If you prefer high-rise jeans, the Zara TRF High Rise Wide Leg Jeans are a great option that provide the same elongation as Sharp’s favorite styles. The Reformation Cary High Rise Slouchy Wide Leg Jeans, which Sharp and Conroy both recommend, are another high-rise pair that gives the illusion of super-long legs.

Those who prefer a mid-rise may reach for barrel jeans, which tend to sit lower than most wide-leg jeans. The Plnotme Wide Leg Mid Rise Barrel Jeans and the Free People Good Luck Mid-Rise Barrel Jeans are two of our favorite mid-rise jeans we’ve found.

Styling

Sharp loves styling wide-leg jeans with either a ballet flat or a pointy pump, depending on the occasion. She frequently styles wide-leg jeans with a simple tank, tucked-in button-down, or cropped jacket.

Conroy encourages shoppers to pair their wide-leg jeans with basic white tees, cropped knit cardigans, and cropped vests.

Why Trust PEOPLE?

Genevieve Cepeda is a shopping writer for PEOPLE and a wide-leg jeans enthusiast. For this article, she interviewed stylists Jordanna Sharp and Cindy Conroy to gain expert insight on the trend. The stylists shared their favorite wide-leg jeans, shopping tips, and styling advice. In addition to stylist recommendations, Genevieve also took into account editor favorites and jeans loved by PEOPLE testers.

After hours of research, Genevieve compiled this list of the best wide-leg jeans, inspired by our favorite celebrity looks.